Judge Calls For Eviction In Convenience Store Saga

DIGEST

October 23, 1998|Staff reports

DELRAY BEACH — A federal judge signed an emergency order this week that allows U.S. marshals to evict Ali Hammad and change the locks on the convenience store he has leased from the federal government for six years.

The action was the latest quirk in the federal government's case against Roberto Chang, the original owner of the Delray Beach store.

The government accused Chang in 1992 of turning a blind eye to area drug trade, and seized his store. But after a lengthy court battle, Chang won it back.

Still, Hammad, who had been leasing the store from the government, wouldn't leave.

On Oct. 15, Chang's lawyer, James Eisenberg, filed an emergency motion with the U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, demanding that Chang get his store back.

U.S. District Court Judge William Zloch signed the emergency order on Wednesday, but as of Thursday, the order had not yet been carried out.